Sunday, September 08, 2013
Ken Jennings Tuesday Trivia - August 6
THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS
1. On June 16, 1963, in addition to achieving a more famous milestone, who became the first civilian ever to go to space? Sam Shepherd. I mean Chuck Yeager.
2. Missouri and Tennessee each border eight U.S. states, more than any other. But what other state *also* borders eight different states? What about a US state that also touches Mexican states like New Mexico. It touches AZ, UT, CO, OK, TX, KS? Maybe also two Mexican states.
3. What musician, born William Broad, took his stage name from a school nickname referring to his lazy study habits? Professor Longhair?
4. What beloved literary protagonist will suffer through drunken texting and skinny jeans when she returns in her third novel in October, subtitled "Mad about the Boy"? Bridget Jones
5. Today Hiram Bingham is best known not for his career in the U.S. Senate, but for uncovering to the public what site in South America? Macchu Picchu
6. What company now offers cars like a black Ford Mustang, silver Toyota Camry, and white Chevy Malibu in addition to its most iconic vehicle? "iconic vehicle" implies that it is not a car company. Why is the color relevant? That seems like a clue too. Is this something like a golf cart company? Or Oscar Mayer with alternatives to the wienermobile?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these biblical figures, and no others? Jacob, Jesus of Nazareth, King Solomon, and Thomas the Apostle? Something about building or carpentry as mentioned in the Bible? Solomon built the temple, Thomas is the patron saint of architects. Jesus was a carpenter.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What petroleum-derived wax is named for the Latin words for "barely reactive"? Paraffin means "parum affinis," since it has almost no "affinity" for other substances. correct
2. From what occupied German city did the Allied powers issue a 1945 declaration calling for the immediate surrender of Japan? The Potsdam Declaration--you won't believe this--was issued from occupied Potsdam. don't think that I am familiar with the Postdam Declaration
3. The A.P. has given its NFL MVP award to a player with the initials "A.P." twice, both to Minnesota Vikings. In 1971 it was Alan Page; who was it last season? Running back Adrian Peterson. correct
4. What appears after the sender's address but before the recipient's address on a standard business letter? That's where the date goes, in most business letter templates. correct
5. According to a popular classical music superstition, composers like Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert, and Dvorak died after completing what specific work? That's the curse of the ninth symphony! Test it out at your own peril. correct
6. In what 1986 film do the protagonists drive a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT with a vanity plate reading "NRVOUS"? That's Cameron's dad's car in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Also known as "where we all learned that the running-the-car-in-reverse-to-wind-back-the-odometer trick doesn't work." if he had said Ferrari Spyder, it may have been enough to jog my memory of the movie
7. What unusual distinction is shared (more or less!) by these musical tracks? "Backstreets" (1975), "Blue Velvet" (1963), "Family Man" (1987), "LoveGame" (2008), "Love Letter" (2009), "Moon Dreams" (1957), "Rollin' On" (1967), "Superwoman" (1972), "This Boy" (1963), "Thug Style" (1997). Each of these song titles shares (roughly speaking) the initials of its artist. Respectively: Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Vinton, Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, Leona Lewis, Miles Davis, Roy Orbison, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Tupac Shakur. I cast a pretty wide net looking for these and still didn't find too many that were well-known singles...are there others that I missed? well, ok
1. On June 16, 1963, in addition to achieving a more famous milestone, who became the first civilian ever to go to space? Sam Shepherd. I mean Chuck Yeager.
2. Missouri and Tennessee each border eight U.S. states, more than any other. But what other state *also* borders eight different states? What about a US state that also touches Mexican states like New Mexico. It touches AZ, UT, CO, OK, TX, KS? Maybe also two Mexican states.
3. What musician, born William Broad, took his stage name from a school nickname referring to his lazy study habits? Professor Longhair?
4. What beloved literary protagonist will suffer through drunken texting and skinny jeans when she returns in her third novel in October, subtitled "Mad about the Boy"? Bridget Jones
5. Today Hiram Bingham is best known not for his career in the U.S. Senate, but for uncovering to the public what site in South America? Macchu Picchu
6. What company now offers cars like a black Ford Mustang, silver Toyota Camry, and white Chevy Malibu in addition to its most iconic vehicle? "iconic vehicle" implies that it is not a car company. Why is the color relevant? That seems like a clue too. Is this something like a golf cart company? Or Oscar Mayer with alternatives to the wienermobile?
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these biblical figures, and no others? Jacob, Jesus of Nazareth, King Solomon, and Thomas the Apostle? Something about building or carpentry as mentioned in the Bible? Solomon built the temple, Thomas is the patron saint of architects. Jesus was a carpenter.
LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS
1. What petroleum-derived wax is named for the Latin words for "barely reactive"? Paraffin means "parum affinis," since it has almost no "affinity" for other substances. correct
2. From what occupied German city did the Allied powers issue a 1945 declaration calling for the immediate surrender of Japan? The Potsdam Declaration--you won't believe this--was issued from occupied Potsdam. don't think that I am familiar with the Postdam Declaration
3. The A.P. has given its NFL MVP award to a player with the initials "A.P." twice, both to Minnesota Vikings. In 1971 it was Alan Page; who was it last season? Running back Adrian Peterson. correct
4. What appears after the sender's address but before the recipient's address on a standard business letter? That's where the date goes, in most business letter templates. correct
5. According to a popular classical music superstition, composers like Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert, and Dvorak died after completing what specific work? That's the curse of the ninth symphony! Test it out at your own peril. correct
6. In what 1986 film do the protagonists drive a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT with a vanity plate reading "NRVOUS"? That's Cameron's dad's car in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Also known as "where we all learned that the running-the-car-in-reverse-to-wind-back-the-odometer trick doesn't work." if he had said Ferrari Spyder, it may have been enough to jog my memory of the movie
7. What unusual distinction is shared (more or less!) by these musical tracks? "Backstreets" (1975), "Blue Velvet" (1963), "Family Man" (1987), "LoveGame" (2008), "Love Letter" (2009), "Moon Dreams" (1957), "Rollin' On" (1967), "Superwoman" (1972), "This Boy" (1963), "Thug Style" (1997). Each of these song titles shares (roughly speaking) the initials of its artist. Respectively: Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Vinton, Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, Leona Lewis, Miles Davis, Roy Orbison, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Tupac Shakur. I cast a pretty wide net looking for these and still didn't find too many that were well-known singles...are there others that I missed? well, ok
